Michael Bedenbaugh

A Prosperity, SC native, Mike was born with a reverence for history, his state and his Nation. After dedicating five years to the US Navy aboard the USS South Carolina, Mike expanded his horizons by studying International Studies and History at both USC and Columbia University, New York. His initial foray into the corporate realm took him to New York, where he joined the product marketing firm Post No Bills, Inc. that collaborated with corporate powerhouses like Phillip Morris USA and RCA Records. In 1990, Mike moved the company headquarters to Prosperity SC and became CEO. Over the next decade, Mike, alongside his wife and business partner Doreen Sullivan, grew the company to include DreamWorks, Universal Pictures, and MGM and opened branch offices in Los Angeles and New York. During this time, he also played pivotal roles in local planning, preservation, and community service. After becoming President of Preservation SC in 2007, Bedenbaugh created and managed numerous programs that advanced the mission of PreserveSC while creatively addressing the challenges inherent in endangered historic properties. He was responsible for raising millions of dollars for Preservation Projects and saved dozens of historic properties through real estate successes that otherwise would have been lost. Mike was awarded the Order of the Palmetto for his work by Gov. Henry McMaster. He is currently a Realtor with SVN Blackstream and Christie's Blackstream International.

• Out of love for Country and Liberty, and the desire to ensure the elevation of solutions for the survival of our democratic Republic, I have posted my 95 Theses for a Free Republic. The theses below are posted in hopes to moderate the fury of party spirit, to warn against the mischiefs of foreign intrigue, to guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism, to disempower global corporate hegemony, and offer structural mechanisms to mitigate their excesses so as to empower individual liberty of “we the people”.
• I am for term limits for all federal officeholders. Reduce the size of House districts. Repeal the 17th amendment
• Make our COMMUNITIES Great Again!

Foreign Policy and government ethics

Personal friends that I considered my hero's: my "Aunt" Becky (Myra Fellers) , My Mother, Marcus Fields, and Mike Monts along with George Washington, Wade Hampton, Bono, and people like: and anyone who stands up for truth in the face of Demagoguery is a hero! An attorney named Joseph Welch was in a session on June 9, 1954, when McCarthy charged that one of Welch's attorneys had ties to a Communist organization. As an amazed television audience looked on, Welch responded with the immortal lines that ultimately ended McCarthy's career: "Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness." When McCarthy tried to continue his attack, Welch angrily interrupted, "Let us not assassinate this lad further, senator. You have done enough. Have you no sense of decency?"

Honesty and bravery to face the responsibilities of representation head on.

Honesty and strong Character

Protect the Constitution

Made my piece of the world a better place.

I barley remember Kennedy's assassination when I was three.
I really remember the Moon landing when I was 8

Working on my Family Farm. Until I joined the Navy.

Direct representation of the people, and war powers.

It helps sometimes, but we need more citizen legislators.

Blowback from bad foreign policy decisions.

yes...no more than 5 terms

Absolutely! I pledge only two terms.

President Washington

YES...as long as the constitutional order is not compromised.

Agriculture
Appropriations
Armed Services
Budget
Education and the Workforce
Energy and Commerce
Ethics
Foreign Affairs
Homeland Security
Natural Resources
Oversight and Accountability
Rules
Science, Space, and Technology
Small Business
Veterans’ Affairs
Ways and Means
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
Joint Committee on Taxation

I will refer to a few of my 95 Theses:
A candidate for political office can only accept funds from individual citizens qualified to vote for them.(22)

A candidate for political office should be limited to how many years they can serve to ensure the public benefit is not compromised by the power accumulated for their self-benefit.(23)

The source of income by political candidates or office holders must be fully disclosed.(24)

Elected members of Congress must not partake in a retirement plan. They should receive Social Security like the rest of us.(25)

If the Senate maintains a filibuster rule, then the actual filibuster must take place and must adhere to the subject of legislation under debate.(27)

End the practice of omnibus bills: any bill constitutional amendment to distinguish “Natural Persons,” or individual citizens, from “Artificial personas,” or corporations.(87)

Amend the 14th amendment to read Natural Persons.(88)

Establishment of, and rigid enforcement of, antitrust laws in both the State and National marketplace with prioritized focus on media and medical conglomerates.(89)

Prohibition of federal law intervening in individuals right to self-medicate.(90)

Institute rank choice or approval voting for federal office.(91)

Prohibit straight ticket voting along party lines.(92)

Prohibit local/state/federal administrative support for political party primaries.(93)

Prohibit any natural person holding federal position (elected or employee) from joining the board of a corporation or hired as executive leadership in a corporation for a time period equal to their most recent time in office/employment.(94)

Prohibit any candidate or holder of federal or state elected office, or, any person who holds a regulatory position with state or federal government, from investing in publicly held corporations.(95)